Biogenesis and function of lysosomes and lysosome-like organelles.Biogenesis of lysosomal cathepsins: targeting, signal trandusction, inter-organelle traffic, receptor-dependent and receptor-independent transport. Identification of mediators and regulators of the lysosome-autophagy pathway by functional genomic and proteomic; • Role of lysosomal proteolysis and of autophagy in human diseases (cancer, neurodegenerative dseases). • Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in pre-conditioning-induced cytoprotection from ischemic injury. Alchool related oxidative stress-induced modification of molecular targets; computer modeling for antigenic characterisation of auto-antibodies directed toward conformational epitopes; • Novel and reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers in human tumours. Role of Plexin and VEGF in the tumor progression and metastasis; • Role of B-Raf and B-Ras in the development of thyroid carcinomas; • Molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in pre-conditioning-induced cytoprotection from ischemic injury. Alchool related oxidative stress-induced modification of molecular targets; computer modeling for antigenic characterisation of auto-antibodies directed toward conformational epitopes; • Alchool related oxidative stress-induced modification of molecular targets; computer modeling for antigenic characterisation of auto-antibodies directed toward conformational epitopes; Nanobiotechnology and cellular/molecular imaging in human patology.